Dillon Tadolini gets two years probation after attacking two

Dillon Tadolini was sentenced to two years of probation, including one year of intensive supervised probation, for his role in attacking two men on June 8 when he heard that one of them had been hitting and harassing a woman.

He pleaded guilty to felony menacing and illegal possession of a weapon, though a criminal mischief and two second-degree assault charges were dropped.

“I got that phone call, and I just wanted to be a hero,” the 19-year-old said in court.

According to the arrest affidavit, Tadolini approached victims Devean Reynolds and Xavier Stewart, both 22, in a parking lot near Northeast Plaza housing in Sterling and smashed the window of Stewart's 2005 Nissan Maxima with a pair of brass knuckles. The three then reportedly fought, with the victims sustaining only minor injuries, before Tadolini fled when Sterling Police officers arrived.

Judge Kenneth Plotz, who stood in for Judge Michael Singer, declined the prosecution's request to add four to five months of jail to his sentence, electing instead to add 60 days with credit for 35 days served and permission for work release.

He said that violent crime was “unacceptable” and that he was inclined to add more time, but took into consideration the defense's argument that Tadolini was trying to better himself. Public Defender Damon Brune told the court that Tadolini had documented mental health problems, but that he's been keeping a steady job and has plans to attend Northeastern Junior College.